Project: Timberland - Business Operations Research

Step Description Expected Student Results
1 II.INTRODUCTION
A.Description of the business or organization
* what is the type of business (manufacturer, wholesaler,
retailer, service provider)
* What products/services do they sell?
* Who are the owners?
* What size is the business? How long in business?
*How is their market segmented: (demographics, geographics,
and psychographics)?
* Do they have a promotional budget? If so, how much?
B.Description of the community (economic, geographic,
demographic and socioeconomic factors)
*After determining the geographic boundaries of the
business's market, a thorough analysis of that community
must be researched and developed.
C. Description of the business or organization's mission
(statement), target market and existing branding efforts		 II. Introduction, will include researching the information
listed and typing it in a written report using the outline
format. Students will conduct secondary research as well as
primary research to gather the needed data. Students are
encouraged to but not required to use surveys, focus groups,
interviews for the data collection. Most secondary data will
be collected using the Internet provided in class.

The student will submit a rough draft to the mentor. The
mentor will review, edit and provide effetive feedback for
the student work, the student incorporates the feedback and
submits a second draft for review, mentor reviews that
draft. Students will make corretions and finally submit to
teacher for teacher to grade.
2 Students will be preparing their method of research, whether it be a survey, interview questions, etc. Students will prepare their method of research, and submit a rough draft to the mentor in order to make sure that all pertinent questions are asked. The students may need assistance in asking the correct questions in order to get the responses they are looking for.
3 III. Research Methods used in the Study
A. Steps taken to design the study and the instrument
PRIMARY DATA: in conducting a SWOT analysis, the best way
to gather information about the business is a face to face
interview (survey). Therefore, the method of collection will
be to design a set of questions in order to conduct the face
to face interview (survey) well as the development of an
online study.

o What information did you need to know in order to design
your instrument?

o What types of questions did you need to ask about the
business or organization? (For the manager or owner)?
(Include these questions in section III.)


SECONDARY DATA: (information already researched; Prepare a
competitors grid to analyze the competition as well as a
SWOT analysis of the business.


B.Steps taken to conduct the study.

How did you collect the Primary Data? What method did you
utilize? This section should be a detailed explanation of
what you are doing/or planning to do to get the needed data.
After we conduct the Study you can add to this section if
need be.



III. Research Methods used in the Study
This section develops the reasoning and process of developing
the survey instrument.
Also in this section the students will have prepared interview
(survey) questions and analyze the process of actually
accumulating the data. This is a objective narrative.
4 IV FINDING AND CONCLUSIONS
A.Strengths of the business's or organizations's branding
efforts
B. Weaknesses of the business's or organization's branding
C. Opportunities for the business's or organization's branding
D. Threats to the business's or organization's branding 		Students will prepare a SWOT analysis on the business's
branding strategies. They will analyze the strategies and
discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.


The student will submit a rough draft to the mentor. The
mentor will review, edit and provide effetive feedback for the
student work, the student incorporates the feedback and
submits a second draft for review, mentor reviews that draft.
Students will make corretions and finally submit to teacher
for teacher to grade.
5 V. Proposed Strategic Plan and Cost Analysis
A. Objectives and rationale of the proposed rebranding plan
B. Proposed activities and timelines
 V. Proposed Strategic Plan and Cost Analysis
Students will set a budget and come up with means of
measuring the results (ROI).

Since we do not actually implement the project at a place of
business, it is hard for the students to understand how to
get the information. They will probably need a little more
help in this section.

The student will submit a rough draft to the mentor. The
mentor will review, edit and provide effetive feedback for
the student work, the student incorporates the feedback and
submits a second draft for review, mentor reviews that
draft. Students will make corretions and finally submit to
teacher for teacher to grade.

6 VI. Proposed Budget
A.Costs associated with proposed rebranding
strategies
B. Proposed metrics to measure return on
investment (ROI)
 This section will force the students to
consider all costs associated with the
proposed changes. Costs for each
suggestion must be researched and
referenced in the budget.
The most difficult part of this section is
the determination of the Return on
Investment (ROI) as a result of the
proposed changes.
7 I. Executive Summary
One page description of the project		 Students will outline their project in a one page report for
the executive summary. This is a very important part of the
project; in some cases, this is the only part that the judge
will be able to read.

The student will submit a rough draft to the mentor. The
mentor will review, edit and provide effetive feedback for the
student work, the student incorporates the feedback and
submits a second draft for review, mentor reviews that draft.
Students will make corretions and finally submit to teacher
for teacher to grade.
8 Oral Presentation Students are expected to present their information in an oral
presentation/ PowerPoint presentation. The students will
compete at a District Level in February and the top two
winners from each category will move on to the State level.

Mentor role: any feedback that will help the student succeed
in the presentation will be appreciated. Make sure slides are
professional, not cluttered, that the presentation